Electric signaling apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

P. KENNEDY. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905.

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No. 824,991. PATENTEDJULY s, 1906.

P. KENNEDY. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905-.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed August 23, 1905. Serial No. 275,457.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, in the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the general class of automatic electric signaling devices, and particularly to fire-alarm telegraph-boxes; and the object of the invention is to provide a box with means whereby the simple act of pushing in a button sets the signal-sending mechanism in operation, automatically locks the button rod or slide in its operative or pressed-in position until the signal is sent, and then unlocks and returns the buttonslide to its first or normal position. The movement of the button-slide also actuates an indicator which informs the sender that the signal has been sent. The button device is so constructed that it may be pressed in by hand or be operated from a distance electrica y.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional front elevation of a fire-alarm signalbox in which the invention is embodied, the sectional plane being indicated by the line a" in Fig. 2 and Fig. 2 is a similar sectional elevation, the sectional plane being substantially indicated by line 932 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view of the indicator seen from arrow 2 in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the mechanism on a larger scale than the principal views, the former being a sectional side e evation and the latter a plan.

B designates a boX or casing to contain the signal-transmitting mechanism, which may be in the main part the same as that ordina rily used in firealarm signal -boXes, and therefore it will require only a brief description. The line-wires IV and IV enter the box and terminate, as usual, at binding-posts P, which are connected electrically with pens o1 brushes I) I), which bear on a break-contact wheel to of the usual kind, driven by a clock mechanism O. (Indicated only diagrammatically and partly in the drawings, as it is a well-known device.) Connected with and driven by the clock mechanism is a detent disk D, provided with anotch and a shoulder s to engage a stud or pin 1) on a locking-lever L, fulcrumed at So far as above described there is little novelty in the device over what is now well known in the art. In order to set the signal-transmitting mechanism in operation, the lever L is lifted until the pin p is free from the shoulder s, when the disk D is free to rotate under the influence of the spring of the clock mechanism. The break-contact wheel w is rotated and the signal thus trans mitted. I/Vhen the disk D shall have completed a rotation, the pin in the lever L will again engage the shoulder s on the disk and arrest the motion.

In order to lift the lever through the medium of a push-button, a button-shank 1 is mounted slidably in bearings at 2 and 3, the former being a splined bearing to prevent rotation of the slide. On the slide is an incline cam or wedge 4, which when the slide is pushed in takes under the lever L and lifts it up. Fig. 2 shows the parts in their normal position, and Figs. 4 and 5 show the slide pushed in and the lever L upheld by the incline 4E.

I/Vhen the slide 1 is pushed in, a catch 5 on a detent-lever 6, fulcrumed in the incline and normally u held by a suitable spring 7, takes behind the ever L and holds the slide against returning when the pressure is removed from the button. hen the rotation of the disk D is nearly completed, a lug 8 on said disk takes under a lateral arm 9 on the lever 6, rocks the lever so as to free the catch 5 from the lever, and permits the slide 1 to be returned to its original position by its spring 10. The lever now falls until the pin 19 therein rests on the periphery of the disk D in po sition to again engage the shoulder s when the rotation is completed.

The operator does not press directly on the slide 1. On the box B is a tubular projection 11, Fig. 2, on which is slidably mounted a button 12, provided with a retractingspring 13, and a stem 14, adapted to impinge on the slide 1 when the button is pressed in. Obviously the button Wlll at once be returned by its spring when the pressure is removed therefrom; but if the slide 1 shall have been pressed in far enough it will be retained by the catch 5 and held by the means described.

In order that the operator may know that he has effected the sending of the signal, the indicating device now to be described, Figs. 2 and 3, is employed.

Adjacent to the button is a glazed aperture 15 in the side of the box, and inside of the box is an indicator-flap 16, hinged at 17. Normally this flap, which may have on it the Word Sent, as seen in Fig. 3, lies normally in a horizontal position, as in Fig 2; but when the slide 1 1s pushed in a pin 18 on said slide engages the pendent arm of a lever 19 and rocks the lever. The upper arm of this lever takes under and behind the flap 16, and When the lever is rocked by the pushing in of the slide 1 the flap Will be closed up to the opening, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the inscrip tion thereon may be read. The flap remains closed until the slide returns to its normal position, When the flap falls to its horizontal position by the action of gravity.

The button 12 may be actuated operatively by electrical means but this feature is not claimed herein.

Specific mechanisms are herein shown for locking and unlocking the slide 1 and for closing the flap 16 but obviously other mechanical devices may be employed to effect this object Without departing to any material extent from the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A device for the purpose specified, having .a signaltransmitting mechanism provided With a detent device to arrest its movement, said detent device having a lever to be shifted for releasing the mechanism, a button for setting said mechanism in motion, a slide to be actuated operatively by said button, said slide being provided With a cam or incline for shifting said lever When the slide is operatively actuated, means for locking the slide When operatively actuated, means for releasing said slide automatically through f the signal-transmitting mechanism, and in dicating means actuated operatively by the slide.

2. A device for the purpose specified, having a signaltransmitting mechanism provided With a detent device to arrest its movement, a button for setting said mechanism in motion, a slide to be actuated operatively by said button, means for holding said slide against return until released, means operated by the transmitting mechanism for releasing said slide, means for returning the slide When released, and indicating means, consisting of a movable flap bearing an inscription, a lever for moving said flap into view, and means carried by theslide for actuating said lever.

3. A device for the purpose specified, having a signal-transmitting mechanism, a de tent-disk D, driven by said mechanism and having a shoulder s, a locking-lever L having a pin 1) to engage the shoulder s, a slide 1,

having a cam or incline 4 so disposed as to lift said lever When the slide is actuated, a button 12 for actuating said slide, springs for retracting said slide and button, a spring lever 6 carried by the slide and provided With a retaining-catch 5 to engage the locking-lever, an arm 9 on the lever 6, and a lug 8 on the disk D said arm 9, being disposed in the path of the lug 8, for operation to release the slide.

' In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 14th day of August, 1905, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

PATRICK KENNEDY.

Vitnesses:

VVILLIAM J. FIRTH, H. G. HosE. 

